Kaitlyn Williams and Cassio Melloni Top $25,000 Devon Fall Classic Grand Prix

Devon, Pa. – The stadium surrounding the Dixon Oval at the Devon Fall Classic was packed with spectators from near and far in anticipation of the weekend’s highlight event, the $25,000 Devon Fall Classic Grand Prix. With the high energy of the night, Kaitlyn Williams and Cassio Melloni rode quickly and carefully to beat out the competition and wrap up the evening with a victory gallop around the arena.
Eric Hasbrouk’s 13-effort course challenged the field of exhibitors with delicate verticals and multiple rollbacks. Thirty horse-and-rider combinations took to the track to showcase their speed and dexterity in the buzzing atmosphere of the historic Devon Horse Show venue. The first clear ride was produced by the second pair in the order-of-go, Abigail McArdle and Victorio 5, a 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Victorio Equine Group, LLC. The pair was the first of nine to go clear for a ticket to the jump-off, proving Hasbrouk’s ability in creating technical combinations.
Emerging as the pathfinder during the tiebreaker for the $25,000 Devon Fall Classic Grand Prix was Kaitlyn Williams and Cassio Melloni, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Kaitlyn Williams. Being sure to use Cassio Melloni’s swift pace, the pair was able to produce a second clear round and cross the timers at 36.826 seconds during the jump-off. The pair set an unbeatable faultless pace and remained in the lead to take home the winning ribbon for the highlight event.
Grace Long, another contender in the jump-off taking to the ring shortly after Williams, knew she would have to be quick with Happiness VD Hazel HOF, a 9-year-old KWPN mare owned by G&T Equestrian. While she did not have the chance to watch the others go, she did her best to stay inside the turns, taking numerous risks. Her last rollback shaved precious seconds off their time as they galloped down the last line to fly through the timers in 38.620 seconds, which would ultimately secure a second place finish.
Second to last to ride, Michael Burnett entered the ring prepared to challenge Williams’ lead aboard his own Chagrand, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding. The duo was on track to win, slicing through the verticals and leaving all of the rails intact, but their pace was not quite enough to catch up to Williams. The pair tripped the timers in a clear 38.979 seconds for the third place prize.

RESULTS
$25,000 Devon Fall Classic
1. Cassio Melloni / Kaitlyn Williams / 0 / 71.761 | 0 | 36.826
2. Happiness VD Hazel HOF / Grace Long / 0 / 70.165 | 0 | 38.62
3. Chagrand / Michael Burnett / 0 / 66.081 | 0 | 38.979
4. Victorio 5 / Abigail MC Ardle / 0 / 72.282 | 0 | 39.172
5. La Belle SCF / Summer Hill / 0 / 69.85 | 0 | 39.504
6. Morton V’T Merelsnest / Jordan Kilkenny / 0 / 72.889 | 0 | 49.979
7. Giana / Cassandra Kahle / 0 /  | 4 | 40.933
8. Cadans Z / Dominique Damico / 0 / 70.999 | 4 | 43.306
9. Fantom / Sarah Wayda / 0 / 69.718 | 8 | 45.864
10. Main Line Girl / Douglas King / 2 | 74.153
www.phelpssports.com | Photo (c) PhelpsSPORT Emma Miller, Kaitlyn Williams and Cassio Melloni
HSJ